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Apparently not, if this NPR blogger’s list—which is topped by the Antlers’ Hospice—is anything to go by. And another site has even snagged a domain name that assures it’ll at least be atop the Google searches for peoples’ favorite records of the year. And yes, OK, OK, I’m guilty of this premature ranking too, albeit in a way that’s much more shape-shifty than the Ten-Album List On A Blog-Shaped Stone Tablet Post from the public radio behemoth’s site. Anyway, feel free to list your favorites from this still-young year in this site’s comments, or peruse other two-month rundowns I found on the Web after the jump!
• Christopher R. Weingarten, Twitter critic/occasional Idolator co-pilot (not ranked, but Antony & The Johnsons’ The Crying Light has his highest grade so far)
• Sasha Frere-Jones, New Yorker music critic (No. 1: Neko Case, Middle Cyclone)
• Ellen Godwin, MSN UK Music blogger (No. 1: …And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead, The Century Of Self
• Andrew Kuo, gimmicky graphic artist (No. 1: Antony & The Johnsons, The Crying Light)
• Colin McDonnell, some dude on Amazon (No. 1: Neko Case, Middle Cyclone)
Joy Formidable and Bricolage
I’m kinda surprised that people are still gleefully riding the Animal Collective train. They have their enjoyable moments. I liked their performance at Coachella last year. But the latest album is tough to get through in one sitting, I find.
@Thierry: Very cool. I’ve heard various tracks from Jenn Grant’s album on CBC Radio and quite enjoy them.
Nothing is majorly turning my crank thus far this year. I have yet to listen to the Neko Case album preview at [NPR.org] but have high hopes. I think her album drops within a week or so. And I’m looking forward to the collaborative effort by her pals The Sadies with John Doe (although it’s largely covers). I’ve heard that The Decemberists continue further down the prog path that they embarked on with their last album so I’m excited to hear their new one. Apparently, Stars have something on the way and I quite enjoy them. Lastly, someone told me to expect something from Roxy Music’s original lineup – including Brian Eno!
I had read that it’s been taking folks quite a while to get into the new AC record. I swear I’ve spun it 30-40 times here, and I’m still not able to catch the biblical glory that has been bestowed upon these fellas. I’m grateful that there are acts pushing limits, but I’m really struggling to “appreciate” songs that don’t seem to go anywhere. I really like the idea of it, however. I’m also the guy desperate for the next Strokes record, so, there you go.
1. A.C. Newman, Get Guilty
2. Fake Problems, It’s Good To Be Alive
3. Emm Gryner, Goddess
4. Gentleman Reg, Jet Black
5. Plushgun, Pins and Panzers
Good, but confused as to whether they count as ‘08 or ‘09: Titus Andronicus, tUnE-YaRdS
Still processing: Neko Case, Dalek, The Joy Formidable, Junior Boys, Tommy Keene, The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, White Lies, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Youth Group
Nah: Bishop Allen, U2
@dabug: lol, are you me?
Nah. Though depending on Brad’s seriousness, I will be either the first or second person here to stick Chris Cornell’s fascinating clusterfuck somewhere on my top ten.
@antistar2000: “I hope the Neko Case isn’t going to be the Fleet Foxes of this year. It has some good guests on it, but I didn’t like the album overall. Do these music experts even listen to anything that isn’t sent to them?”
Yeah, Neko just came out of nowhere and hasn’t been developing and improving on her sound and music for the better part of a decade. Nice try, champ. Some people actually deserve the success they get. Not saying Fleet Foxes don’t, but Neko has been working her ass off for years and “Middle Cyclone” warrants much praise.
Also, the album has “good guests” on it? Seriously, that’s all you took from it? Damn.
@AquaLung: I salute you.